But when Lexi came to visit for Cam’s home opener back in October, he made the introduction to Sully, the two of them hit it off, and…here we are, with the two of them moving in together next month.
Her lips part, as if she’s about to explain what’s been happening the last period and a half, only for her brows to draw down in a frown. “You know, I can’t even begin to answer that. Even after spending most of the season up in the box with you, I still don’t entirely understand this sport.”
“Welcome to my entire childhood, Lex,” I reply wryly, and she laughs.
“Well, if I’m sure of anything that’s happening down there, it’s that your brother wants to kill your boyfriend.”
Fiancé,I correct internally with a little smirk, though no one here actually knows that yet. And, regardless of his title, Cam getting under Oak’s skin isn’t an unusual occurrence when the two of them face off against one another on the ice. Or Quinton and Cam, for that matter, but I take the bait anyway.
“What makes you say that?”
“My best guess is because Camden isn’t letting him score,” comes from Marcus.
Lexi hums in agreement while gesturing at the jumbotron hanging over center ice to make her point. I notice the score is still sitting at 1-0, Blaze, just like it has been since the end of the first period.
Perfect.
Still, I wave Lexi’s concern off. “Oh, low scores aren’t anything new. And you know how competitive—”
“It’s more about his save count, Logan,” my father chimes in, appearing over my shoulder. “He’s at almost forty already, and we’re only in the second period.”
Oh, shit.
I might not know a lot about the sport still, but I do know enough to realize that’s quite a lot of shots to block. Seeing as the Knights sit firmly at zero goals, it’s even more impressive. Or maybe I’m just down bad for the guy defending the net, and I’m impressed by everything he does.
Undetermined.
“Papa Reed, how do you even choose who to root for today?” Lexi asks, glancing up at Dad.
He holds up his hands in front of him, feigning innocence. “I will be happy with the outcome regardless, so long as everyone plays a clean, fair game.”
“That’s a lie,” I murmur conspiratorially. “We all know Quinton is his favorite child.”
“Now, now. You know I don’t play favorites when it comes to my boys,” my father admonishes while sliding back onto the stool he was occupying earlier.
My gaze darts over to Lexi, and I find her struggling to bite back a smile. What’s worse is I can read every damn thought on her face like an open book, which has me fighting a losing battle with my own grin, only for the two of us to bust up laughing.
Yeah, Dad. Keep telling yourself that.
“There’s our champion!”
I shoot a look at my father, who is practically beaming with pride as Cam steps out of the locker room. But ever the good sport, my fiancé just laughs as his gaze finds mine. It takes only a few seconds for his arms to wrap around me, hauling me in for a massive hug. He smells like his musky bodywash, and his hair is still damp from his recent shower, but I slide my fingers through the strands anyway, relishing in his touch like always, before giving him a quick kiss.
“Congrats, baby,” I whisper, and he presses his lips to my temple before hugging me again.
“Okay, okay. Let everyone else have a hug too,” Dad chides once I finally release Cam.
“So much for you being the favorite,” Lexi says to Quinton.
He and Oakley have long since joined us while we waited for Cam’s post-game press conference to wrap up—which he crushed as well. Then again, having fifty-seven saves in a single game is pretty fucking noteworthy…according to Dad.
“I told you, I don’t have favorites,” Dad insists.
I glance over at Lexi, finding her carefully tucked into Sully’s side with a wry smirk on her face. Of course, it’s not just the two of us who laugh when our gazes collide but everyone else too; my mother included.
“Yeah, it was fun while it lasted,” Quinton muses. “But I don’t think either of us can compete with a Cup win. Can we, baby?”
Oakley shakes his head. “Not a damn chance. But it happens. Guess we weren’t the better men on the ice tonight.”
